Question for Paul McBride, the General Aviation News engines expert: I own a Piper Cherokee 6. Is it possible to upgrade this engine with a turbocharger?
Ajay
Paul’s Answer: Ajay, I’ve got to be honest with you and tell you that I almost tossed your question in the round file. One of my biggest pet peeves is for people not providing enough information for me to properly respond to the questions asked.
In your case, there was no mention of the specific engine model that is installed in your Piper Cherokee 6. Having been around Piper aircraft for many years, I knew right away that the engine in your aircraft was a Lycoming O-540-E4B5.
I’ll get off my soapbox now and get to the answer to your question.
To my knowledge Ajay, there is no approved upgrade, such as adding a turbocharger, to your engine.
I must ask you a question: Why do you want to add a turbocharger? Is your goal to operate the aircraft at higher altitudes or are you just looking for more horsepower?
Regardless of your answer to that question, my answer to your question remains the same: No you cannot add a turbocharger.
As you may be aware, Piper also produced the PA-32-300 which used a 300 horsepower Lycoming engine. This engine did not have a turbocharger, so if higher operating altitudes are your goal, this won’t meet your needs either. Other models that were produced by Piper did incorporate a turbocharged engine, such as the Turbo Saratoga (PA-32R-301T) or the Piper Lance Turbo (PA-32RT-300T).
I hope I haven’t upset you about your failure to provide enough information and not being able to offer any upgrades for turbocharging your current engine.
I consider my answer to be honest, but the most important thing to take from all of this is the fact that you made the effort to ask the question before just stumbling off and throwing a bunch of money at your aircraft in an attempt to improve its performance. Way to go, Ajay.
And to all of our other readers, I would like to remind you that any time you are asking a question regarding a Lycoming engine, it’s much easier for me to respond if I have a specific engine model and serial number.
Any maintenance history on the engine is also helpful. I will never fault anyone for providing too much information.
Ray jay turbonormalizer works for high density altitude takeoffs out west, not worth the trouble east of the Mississippi unless you are doing high altitude photography.
If and unless you feel some reason to operate the unpressurized aircraft at some hypoxic altitude, a turbocharger won’t do you any good, even if the modification was legal.
Mr. McBride alluded to the question of mission; higher altitude capability or more horsepower.
If the former, Talco Aviation is the holder of STC# SA1557WE, the former Rajay turbocharger conversion acquired in 2018. If more power is needed, STC# SA409GL will approve the replacement of your Lycoming O-540-E4B5 with a 300 HP IO-540-K1A5.
Both mission capabilities are better served by considering the Turbo Saratoga or the Turbo Lance.
The Rajay has an ATC for the PA-32 260, but not for the 300.
https://rajay.aero/pages/list-of-stcs